Marine Sues Congressman for Slander Over Haditha Comments

[Pathfinder]

From FoxNews

Personally, I hope they fry Murtha's worthless ass.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,428201,00.html

Thursday, September 25, 2008

PITTSBURGH —  A former U.S. Marine sued a congressman for slander on Thursday, saying he damaged his reputation by saying he and his comrades killed women and children "in cold blood" in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005.

Former Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt filed the federal lawsuit against Rep. John Murtha in Pittsburgh. Sharratt claims the comments by the high-ranking Pennsylvania Democrat made on news shows in May 2006 also violated his constitutional rights to due process and presumption of innocence.

Sharratt, 24, was initially charged with three counts of premeditated murder but was exonerated after a full investigation and a hearing. He was honorably discharged last year.

"Sharratt, in being labeled repeatedly by Murtha as a 'cold-blooded murderer,' and by Murtha outrageously claiming that the Haditha incident was comparable to the infamous (My Lai) massacre of Vietnam, has suffered permanent, irreversible damage to his reputation," the lawsuit states.

Military prosecutors have said two dozen Iraqis, including women and children, were killed in Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, after one Marine died and two others were wounded by a roadside bomb. Murtha, a former Marine and decorated Vietnam War veteran, spoke out about the killings, saying that troops in Iraq were being put under too much pressure.

Sharratt said he has received hate e-mails and been called a "baby killer" when he goes out in his hometown in suburban Pittsburgh.

Murtha's office said the congressman had no comment on the lawsuit.

Sharratt is the second Marine to sue Murtha over his comments about Haditha. Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the only person still facing charges in the Haditha case, sued Murtha for defamation in 2006. That lawsuit is pending.

In his lawsuit, Sharratt accuses Murtha of repeatedly saying on CNN, NBC and other outlets that Sharratt and his fellow Marines "overreacted because of the pressure on them and killed innocent civilians in cold blood."

Murtha said the Haditha killings were comparable to the March 1968 My Lai massacre, when American servicemen killed as many as 504 Vietnamese villagers, Geary said in a statement.

Sharratt and Geary denied any civilians were killed on purpose, and Sharratt said he didn't witness any civilian deaths. Sharratt and his father, Darryl, said that he killed three insurgents, two armed with assault rifles and a third about to retrieve a rifle.

Murtha didn't name Sharratt, but media members were able to identify him from the congressman's comments and other information, said Sharratt's attorney, Noah Geary, at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Four enlisted Marines, including Sharratt, were originally charged for their roles in the killings and four officers were charged in connection to the investigation. One officer was acquitted and charges have since been dropped against everyone else except Wuterich, whose case is pending.

Wuterich has pleaded not guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter. He is accused of ordering his men to clear several houses with grenades and gunfire, leading to the deaths of women and children.

A veteran congressman, Murtha was hawkish on war issues for decades but has come to believe the U.S. should leave Iraq as soon as possible. He is known for bringing money and jobs, especially in the defense industries, to his district in rural Pennsylvania.

He faces Republican William T. Russell, a career Army member who left the service two years short of retirement, in the November election. Russell has run campaign ads criticizing Murtha for his comments about Haditha.

[Hazcat]

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rastus]

Good.

Murtha is less than worthless sell-out; he deserves to finish out his life a broken, penniless old man.  Even that's too good for him, he legitamized the ultra-liberals and helped usher in this Greasy Joe/BHO trash.

[twyacht]

Good,.... if this were a different time in American history, I'd call him out, and drop his sorry a** at 20 paces at dawn: and if he had a second, well,....I'd just slap him.

After hearing Murtha, over the years, and no apology after the ACQUITTAL on Haditha, he really needs an attitude adjustment.

Decorum prohibits from remarking further...

[tombogan03884]

Heard through the "grapevine" that these suits were coming glad they are finally in the public eye.

Good,.... if this were a different time in American history, I'd call him out, and drop his sorry a** at 20 paces at dawn: and if he had a second, well,....I'd just slap him.

After hearing Murtha, over the years, and no apology after the ACQUITTAL on Haditha, he really needs an attitude adjustment.

Decorum prohibits from remarking further...

If this were a "different time in American history" his career would have been finished after "ABSCAM".

[Sponsor]

[DesertMarine]

Murtha deserves to be drummed out of the Corps.  If anyone has not been present at a "drumming out", it is something no one wants to go thru.  I hope the Marines get millons in judgement against Murtha.

In drumming out, the scumbag is brought before his unit who is in formation, wearing Class A uniforms.  The scumbag is also in Class A uniform.  His rank insignia, hash marks if any, awards, all buttons and emblems with Eagle, Globe and Anchor (EGA) are cut-off from his blouse (jacket for non-Marines) and cover (cap).  The unit is then commanded to do an about face, the scumbag is taken by vehicle to the Main Gate of the base and dropped off in disgraced uniform.  Doubt that the Marines do it anymore, especially with the feel-good, touchy-touchy, be nice attitudes of liberal politicians imposed on the military.

[CJS3]

Murtha always refers to his "military service", when critisized about his Haditha statements. It has always amazed me, that no one threw General Benedict Arnold's service back at him (didn't he swing from a rope).

[Pathfinder]

Arnold died about 1801 from diseases, not being hung.

Good idea, though, about throwing Benedict Arnold in this loser's face - often, until he retires (at taxpayers' expense) and vacates Congress - the sooner the better.

[tombogan03884]

Arnold died about 1801 from diseases, not being hung.

Good idea, though, about throwing Benedict Arnold in this loser's face - often, until he retires (at taxpayers' expense) and vacates Congress - the sooner the better.

In ENGLAND, of Achoholism

[Pathfinder]

In ENGLAND, of Achoholism

Arnold had turned into an alcoholic in England, true, and that was undoubtedly a contributing factor, but the sources I read said the cause was "dropsy". I looked up that quaint 18th Century disease, and it appears to be severe edema (fluid retention) often related to hypertension or cardiac disease.

Bottom line, he died in his new country, a broken man, shunned by the British as a traitor to his own people, and unable to return to the US for the same reason. A sad, but deserved fate for a man who tried to sell out his cause due to arrogance and a bruised ego.

What fate does Murtha deserve? And the rest of the mopes in Congress for their traitorous actions?